I don’t know about you, but…
It seems to me that September came and went quickly, and October was upon me before I was really ready for it. Even though the last part of September was a really busy time for me, I managed to complete my October column in a timely fashion. This column is my 25th offering to the Kewanee Voice. It hardly seems possible. Thoughts about October will be coming up shortly, but first, I have some observations about September.
I don’t know about you, but…
I was happy when I learned recently that the new interactive scoreboard located in the Brockman Gym on the campus of Kewanee High School was named after Frank Tocha. Many of you know Coach Tocha as the highly successful Boiler Girls basketball coach, but there is much more to the Frank Tocha legacy than his being a Hall of Fame girls’ basketball coach. He won a state championship as the head coach of the KHS boys cross country team.
He was also a highly successful volleyball coach and track coach. He was also a very valuable member of my KHS football coaching staff in the early 1990s. Simply put, he knew how to coach. He was a tireless worker who knew how to treat the youngsters that he coached. He was also an excellent educator and educational administrator. The best thing about him is that he is just a really good person. Personally, I learned a lot from Coach Tocha, and I am happy to call Frank my friend. My sources tell me that there will a dedication ceremony sometime in December. More about that later. Congratulations Coach Frank Tocha.
I don’t know about you, but…
I believe that the people of Good’s Furniture did a great job again this year with the Block Party they sponsored on Saturday, Sept. 20. There were all kinds of fun activities for all the children that attended. There was also a magician, food trucks and other vendors that gave away free cotton candy, shaved ice and hot dogs to the younger attendees. Even a passing rain shower didn’t dampen the spirits of those enjoying all that was offered. This is just another example of Kewaneeans providing fun activities for others.
I don’t know about you, but…
I wonder if you knew that the Two Rivers YMCA in Kewanee has a new executive director. Kewanee native Nicole Moehring was recently hired to direct the Y. I have complete confidence that she will do a great job going forward, both in maintaining and improving what the YMCA does to enhance the lives of its members and nonmembers.
The Kiwanis Club of Kewanee held its second annual Oktoberfest at Cerno’s Bar and Grill on Sept. 27. I don’t know about you, but…
I always believed that Oktoberfest should be celebrated in the month of October. I guess Oktoberfest is traditionally celebrated in late September. Well anyway, if you are a beer drinker (or not), this is a fun evening, complete with a wonderful spread of German food, a wide selection of beers to sample, raffle items and even some wine to taste. So, if you missed it this year, put it on your radar for next year.
And now, the wonderful month of October. Among other things October is, it is also National Pizza Month and National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
I don’t know about you, but…
Pizza is among my favorite foods. I prefer my pizza with a very thin crust, a large variety of toppings, light on a well-seasoned sauce, and light on cheese. But when it comes down to it, just about any pizza will do. My favorite pizza can be found at The Lucca Grill in Bloomington, Ill. The pizza is a Baldini special with anchovies. Yes, I said anchovies. I enjoy anchovies on pizza and salads. I believe it is due partly to my Greek upbringing.
I don’t know about you, but…
I believe that if you haven’t given much thought to cybersecurity, maybe you should. What a better way to turn the world upside down than to disable its technology. We rely on computers and technology to such a degree that cyber attacks are a real threat to our way of life.
Oct. 2 is National Custodial Worker Day. I don’t know about you, but…
I think that this would be a great time to let the custodial workers know that you appreciate what they do for us. In fact, I think we should be thanking this often overlooked and underappreciated group of workers a lot more often than one day a year.
In Kewanee history, on Oct. 3, 1997, the Kewanee Aquatic Center opened, replacing the old Northeast Park swimming pool. I don’t know about you, but…
It seems to me that the Aquatic Center has been around a lot longer than that. How time flies! I believe that just as the Northeast pool was, the Aquatic Center is, an enhancement to the lives of many of the citizens of Kewanee.
Oct. 15 is I Love Lucy Day. I don’t know about you, but…
I wish I had $10 for every I Love Lucy rerun that I watched as a kid growing up. I believe that would be a tidy sum.
Also in Kewanee history, on Oct. 27, 1984, Walmart opened in Kewanee. I don’t know about you, but…
I view Walmart as both a positive and a negative. On the positive side, Walmart does afford employment to many in and around Kewanee. I also enjoy, and take advantage of, the convenience of one-stop shopping for a variety of products and competitive prices. However, part of me misses shopping at the small specialty stores where people were treated more as friends, than just customers. Walmart essentially priced some of these smaller stores out of business.
Oct. 27 is the day when National American Beer Day is celebrated annually. I don’t know about you, but…
I believe that many Americans celebrate this day more frequently than once a year! Anyway, this day honors the tradition and diversity of American-made beers. So even if you enjoy hoisting a Guinness Stout, downing a cold, crisp Heineken, or savoring a Corona on the beach, you should take the time to have an ice cold, frothy American lager on National American Beer Day. Heck, it could even be purchased at Walmart!
I don’t know about you, but…
I believe it is time to finish off this month’s offering. I am sure I will find the time to take a nap and rest up for October’s most notable holiday, Halloween. With that in mind, I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Halloween.
October’s thought of the month comes from a sign above the kitchen in the Purple Onion restaurant in Annawan. It speaks to all of you that currently are working, or have labored, in relative anonymity, in a job such as that of a custodial worker. The sign says, “No one notices what I do until I don’t do it.” Thanks for reading.
